The Home Assistance Programme for the Indigent (HAPI) has achieved a significant milestone with the arrival of its largest-ever construction materials shipment, marking a pivotal moment in the program’s expansion efforts. This substantial delivery, comprising eleven truckloads of lumber and galvanized materials, enables the initiative to dramatically scale its operations from individual projects to simultaneously constructing five homes.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne characterized this delivery as “the single largest amount of building material to be imported in the country at any given point,” emphasizing that this represents merely the beginning of ongoing annual procurement efforts. The massive shipment arrives as HAPI transitions from its original repair-focused model to including complete new home construction for structures deemed beyond rehabilitation.
Programme Coordinator Inspector Veldon Raggette revealed that 111 homes have been completed since the program’s inception, with three currently underway. The selection process prioritizes need rather than application order, with households containing more children receiving accelerated consideration. “It goes by priority,” Raggette explained. “The more children involved, the quicker HAPI gets activated.”
A distinctive aspect of the program involves its workforce composition, which primarily consists of inmates from His Majesty’s Prison working alongside volunteers. Raggette described this collaboration as “two second chances” – providing prisoners with skill development opportunities while simultaneously offering vulnerable families improved living conditions.
Beyond physical construction, HAPI incorporates comprehensive social support through partnership with the Social Protection Board. Raggette emphasized the importance of counseling services, noting that without proper support, “it’s just a new building to be destroyed in two, three years.”
The program requires applicants to either own their property or provide notarized permission from landowners. Constructed homes meet reinforced structural standards designed to withstand hurricane conditions, with Raggette asserting they build “the strongest wooden house in Antigua and Barbuda” through bolting, strapping, and clipping techniques.
With identified needs across communities including Five Islands, Grays Farm and Villa, HAPI continues its expansion with Raggette affirming: “HAPI is here to stay.” Families living in unsafe conditions are encouraged to apply through the Social Protection Board.